Sheppard Air Force Base, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, is a cornerstone of Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and holds the distinction of being the most diverse training installation in the U.S. Air Force. With two distinct, large-scale training missions, Sheppard is a bustling hub responsible for producing a significant portion of the Air Force’s technically skilled Airmen and a cadre of combat pilots for NATO allies. The base motto, “Combat Capability Starts Here,” reflects its foundational role in preparing warfighters for the global stage.

The host unit, the 82nd Training Wing (82 TRW), leads the Air Force’s largest technical training operation. The wing provides comprehensive instruction in a vast array of specialties, including aircraft maintenance, logistics, civil engineering, and cyber operations. Each year, tens of thousands of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines graduate from the 82 TRW’s schools, equipped with the essential skills needed to support military operations worldwide.

Operating alongside the technical training mission is the prestigious 80th Flying Training Wing (80 FTW). The 80th FTW conducts the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program, the world’s only multi-nationally manned and managed pilot training program. This unique 55-week course trains combat pilots for 14 NATO partner nations, fostering international cooperation and building allied interoperability from the ground up.

Personnel, students, and their families stationed at Sheppard AFB are welcomed into the tight-knit “Texoma” community of Wichita Falls, which has a long and proud history of supporting the base. The dual nature of the base, combining both technical and flying training on a massive scale, creates a dynamic and resource-rich environment focused entirely on building the foundation of airpower.